CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns and Chargers square off Sunday in Cleveland and neither team is thrilled to be 2-2 on the season.
The Browns have let two games get away from them in losses to the Jets and Falcons while L.A. lost a tight one to the Chiefs and got blown out by Jacksonville.
The level of competition for the Browns, including opposing quarterbacks, takes a quantum leap over the next seven games starting this week before Deshaun Watson is allowed to play.
What to watch for – Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett has played well but can he keep up with the league’s elite QBs? That question will start to be answered this week as the stretch begins with Justin Herbert in town. Brissett is competing 64.6% of his passes for 830 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions to date, which has been good enough to win every week.
Nick Chubb is the only player to tally 100 scrimmage yards in each of the first four games this season and he’ll look to make it five straight. Chubb has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of the first four games this season and he has five touchdowns on the ground in 2022. The Chargers rank 14th stopping the run, allowing nearly 110 per game.
Herbert has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of his last seven road games, the second-longest streak in NFL history. He’s also thrown a touchdown pass in 25 consecutive games. The Browns secondary has been susceptible to the big play through the air and Herbert is among the best at the deep ball completing 29 passes for 40 or more yards since 2020, which is tops in the NFL.
Myles Garrett returns after missing last week’s game due to injuries suffered in a one-car accident September 26 in Medina County. Garrett is a sack away from passing Clay Matthews Jr. for the “official” franchise record.
There is a chance Garrett could be joined by Jadeveon Clowney, who has been sidelined with a right ankle sprain since suffering the injury in the third quarter September 18, in returning to the lineup. Clowney has had a sack in each of his last four home games.
Who will close it out? Closing games has been a problem for both teams. Browns opponents have scored 50 points in the fourth quarter to date and last week they allowed 172 yards on the ground but were without three of their four starting defensive linemen. Conversely the Chargers have been outscored in the second half 75-31.
Last week – Chargers beat the Texans 34-24; Browns lost to the Falcons 23-20
Last Time – October 10, 2021: Chargers 47, Browns 42
Series – Chargers lead 18-9-1
Rankings – Points: Chargers 12 (23.0), Browns T-6 (26.3)
Yards: Chargers 7 (371.8), Browns T-4 (384.8)
Rushing: Chargers 32 (64.5), Browns 2 (187.3)
Passing: Chargers 1 (307.3), Browns 25 (197.5)
Points allowed: Chargers 30 (27.0), Browns 19 (23.8)
Yards allowed: Chargers 20 (349.5), Browns 9 (323.7)
Rushing yards allowed: Chargers T-14 (109.8), Browns 17 (113.3)
Passing yards allowed: Chargers 17 (239.8), Browns 13 (212.8)
Turnover ratio: Chargers T-8 (+1), Browns T-8 (+1)
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Nick Chubb, TE Harrison Bryant
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Jordan Elliott, DT Tommy Togiai, DE Jadeveon Clowney, SAM Sione Takitaki, MIKE Jacob Phillis, WILL Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, SS Grant Dept., FS John Johnson III
Injury report – QUESTIONABLE: DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle), DT Taven Bryan (hamstring); EXPECTED TO PLAY: RT Jack Conklin (rest), LG Joel Bitonio (biceps/rest), TE Harrison Bryant (illness), DT Jordan Elliott (knee), DE Myles Garrett (shoulder, biceps), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (groin), CB Denzel Ward (back/ribs), WR Amari Cooper (rest), OT Joe Haeg (concussion), TE David Njoku (knee/rest), DE Isaiah Thomas (hand)
Uniforms – Brown color rush uniforms with orange numerals and lettering.
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WOIO-TV 19 (CBS)
Kickoff – 1:05 p.m. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, Ohio
Prediction – Browns 31, Chargers 30
Our record – 2-2